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Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Safe in a Crazy World of IT
Let's face it. Technology is getting better day by day. of course, you do not want your personal information being stolen and files modified in a way that you didn't want it to be modified. Even worse, you do not want your system to be compromised in a way that would render your personal computer or corporate network to be shut down.
During servicing, and most IT technicians working the security field would agree with me, many customers either have no anti-virus software or out-of-date definitions running on their systems. This would present a threat to the system as it is unprotected viruses and other malware that try to invade your system.
The Microsoft Windows family, namely XP and Vista now, would face the largest number of threats as it simply has the largest market share. Mac and Linux users haven't much to worry about, but as the statistics would have it, malware writers are already taking the step into the Mac and Linux world.
According to an alert issued Monday Oct 30 2007, by Intego, a company that sells anti-virus software for the Mac, a number of Mac user forums are being spammed with links to video porn sites that prompt Mac users to install one of these magic codecs. Intego says the trade-off is hardly worth it, as Mac users who agree to install the software don't get to view any additional racy material, and yet they're left with a nasty little rash on their machine to boot.
Let us do a quick run down of the most readily available anti-malware software available, both proprietary and free.
Anti-Virus
Whilst most users simply use their PCs for home use, listening to MP3s, reading email and checking the emails, it is still vital that users have anti-virus on their PCs. Who wants to deal with a PC that is unable to start every now and then? Here, the most well-known anti-virus software will be reviewed and recommendations will be made.
Now, if you have got the cash, you'll probably be shocked to hear this. AVG anti-virus 8.0 has beaten names like Trend Micro, McAfee and Norton in the test run and conducted by TopTenReviews. With a clean and easy to use interface, small footprint and excellent detection rate, it is little wonder why it is the most downloaded security software on the Internet. If you are looking to save costs or whether you are just a home user, download the latest AVG Anti-Virus software from http://free.avg.com/.
On the other hand, if you are willing to spend the cash on something that you would like to feel more reliable with then check out Kaspersky's Anti-Virus 2009 or BitDefender 2009 and notably NOD32, which has a super small footprint on your system. More details on these software and other related software can be found at www.pcmag.com .
Anti-Spyware
Whilst virus corrupt your data, spyware attempts to steal it. Sounds familiar?
According to TopTenReviews.com, your best bet at getting a free anti-spyware prgram would be SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition. With a look at it's review, it seems like such a powerhouse that I personally tried it on an old laptop. The results i got were more than enough for me to uninstall Spybot Search and Destroy 1.6 for good.
For those with the cash to spare, you would be looking to get a copy of Spyware Doctor for your PC or network. PC Tools Spyware Doctor has the resources to remove all traces of spyware and even prevent it from downloading. For more details of the Anti-Spyware software, head on down to www.pcmag.com for reliable reviews and free software availble.
Let's face it. Technology is getting better day by day. of course, you do not want your personal information being stolen and files modified in a way that you didn't want it to be modified. Even worse, you do not want your system to be compromised in a way that would render your personal computer or corporate network to be shut down.
During servicing, and most IT technicians working the security field would agree with me, many customers either have no anti-virus software or out-of-date definitions running on their systems. This would present a threat to the system as it is unprotected viruses and other malware that try to invade your system.
The Microsoft Windows family, namely XP and Vista now, would face the largest number of threats as it simply has the largest market share. Mac and Linux users haven't much to worry about, but as the statistics would have it, malware writers are already taking the step into the Mac and Linux world.
According to an alert issued Monday Oct 30 2007, by Intego, a company that sells anti-virus software for the Mac, a number of Mac user forums are being spammed with links to video porn sites that prompt Mac users to install one of these magic codecs. Intego says the trade-off is hardly worth it, as Mac users who agree to install the software don't get to view any additional racy material, and yet they're left with a nasty little rash on their machine to boot.
Let us do a quick run down of the most readily available anti-malware software available, both proprietary and free.
Anti-Virus
Whilst most users simply use their PCs for home use, listening to MP3s, reading email and checking the emails, it is still vital that users have anti-virus on their PCs. Who wants to deal with a PC that is unable to start every now and then? Here, the most well-known anti-virus software will be reviewed and recommendations will be made.
Now, if you have got the cash, you'll probably be shocked to hear this. AVG anti-virus 8.0 has beaten names like Trend Micro, McAfee and Norton in the test run and conducted by TopTenReviews. With a clean and easy to use interface, small footprint and excellent detection rate, it is little wonder why it is the most downloaded security software on the Internet. If you are looking to save costs or whether you are just a home user, download the latest AVG Anti-Virus software from http://free.avg.com/.
On the other hand, if you are willing to spend the cash on something that you would like to feel more reliable with then check out Kaspersky's Anti-Virus 2009 or BitDefender 2009 and notably NOD32, which has a super small footprint on your system. More details on these software and other related software can be found at www.pcmag.com .
Anti-Spyware
Whilst virus corrupt your data, spyware attempts to steal it. Sounds familiar?
According to TopTenReviews.com, your best bet at getting a free anti-spyware prgram would be SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition. With a look at it's review, it seems like such a powerhouse that I personally tried it on an old laptop. The results i got were more than enough for me to uninstall Spybot Search and Destroy 1.6 for good.
For those with the cash to spare, you would be looking to get a copy of Spyware Doctor for your PC or network. PC Tools Spyware Doctor has the resources to remove all traces of spyware and even prevent it from downloading. For more details of the Anti-Spyware software, head on down to www.pcmag.com for reliable reviews and free software availble.
Posted by Salvagers Blogger @ 11:21 PM
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USB 3.0 nears completion
USB: Everyone loves its ubiquity and simplicity, but it's starting to show its age in an era of terabyte hard drives. USB 3.0 has been in the works for at least a year, and it's finally now to the point where actual hardware is being produced.
Maximum PC got a deep dice into USB 3, complete with a look at all the cable formats available. Check out the story at this link for detailed pictures of each of the connectors (that's the standard "A" connector shown above; contacts now run vertically instead of horizontally). While things look considerably different internally if you check out the connectors, old cables and equipment will be backward compatible with all existing USB hardware. (It gets even weirder if you look at the mini USB connectors: The new cables feature a split design that's twice as wide as the old mini connector, with a little gap in the middle. The prevailing theory, which I'm told the USB folks won't confirm, is that you can plug your old USB gear into just half the connector and it will still work.)
The big bonus of course is speed: Maxing out at 4.8Gbps, USB 3.0 is 10 times faster than the current USB 2.0 spec. And while you sadly won't see that level of speed in the real world, you should at least see a huge improvement over current equipment (which doesn't really approach 480Mbps, either). A full gigabit per second performance for standard file copies (to an external hard drive, for example) is likely doable. Another big innovation: USB 3.0 separates upstream and downstream data, so you should actually be able to get an additional performance boost since you can read and write at the same time.
Even better: Faster charging over USB. Current USB power is a measly 100 milliamps, which is why it takes all day to charge your iPod. USB 3.0 jumps to 900 milliamps, so gadgets will charge considerably faster. Max PC says not to expect products until late 2009 at the earliest, and then begins the long slow process of upgrading desktops and laptops to the new connectors and controllers. Still, this is one change I'm definitely looking forward to.
From: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/103627
Posted by Salvagers Blogger @ 8:17 PM
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Green Tech
M2E Power, a company formed last year to charge electronic gadgets with human motion, has reported back that its system actually works.
Next year it expects to release a charger that can harvest enough motion from walking to replenish cell phones or other small gadgets, like GPS devices.
It says that six hours of cumulative motion can add 30 to 60 minutes of talk time to a cell phone.
M2E Power's charger, powered by human motion.(Credit: M2E Power)
The idea is to place the charger inside a purse or backpack and let it charge in the background, said Regan Rowe, director of business development at the company. When fully charged, M2E Power's device stores enough to recharge a phone at a speed comparable to an AC outlet.
Inside is a lithium ion battery and a series of coils and magnets. When it moves, an electromagnetic field forms around the coils to generate electricity.
The technology, developed in part at Boise State University, optimizes that field to match the slow frequency of human motion and draw a usable current.
The charger unit can be charged by an AC wall socket as well. M2E Power has had discussions with cell phone manufacturers to build the generator directly into a phone.
"Handset manufacturers are under pressure to deal with electronic waste issues and show they are looking for more sustainable practices," Rowe said. "We've seen a lot of interest in this as the wave of the future."
But because those products take a few years to design and develop, it will likely take at least two years before a self-powered cell phone is commercially available, Rowe said.
The company is also testing how much charge it can draw from the vibration of vehicles, Rowe said. The amount of charge a generator can make varies a great deal with the amount of motion.
"Someone with an old pick-up truck with no shocks will have a glorious time with M2E technology, but someone with a Mercedes will have to spend more time" charging, she said.
Long term, the company is looking at placing self-charging devices in hybrid and electric cars.
Putting a self-charging device near windshield wipers or door locks could significantly cut down on a hybrid car's electrical load and extend its driving range, Rowe said.
The company also has military grants to explore the use of self-powering devices such as night goggles.
From: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10023421-54.html?tag=mncol;title
M2E Power, a company formed last year to charge electronic gadgets with human motion, has reported back that its system actually works.
Next year it expects to release a charger that can harvest enough motion from walking to replenish cell phones or other small gadgets, like GPS devices.
It says that six hours of cumulative motion can add 30 to 60 minutes of talk time to a cell phone.
M2E Power's charger, powered by human motion.(Credit: M2E Power)The idea is to place the charger inside a purse or backpack and let it charge in the background, said Regan Rowe, director of business development at the company. When fully charged, M2E Power's device stores enough to recharge a phone at a speed comparable to an AC outlet.
Inside is a lithium ion battery and a series of coils and magnets. When it moves, an electromagnetic field forms around the coils to generate electricity.
The technology, developed in part at Boise State University, optimizes that field to match the slow frequency of human motion and draw a usable current.
The charger unit can be charged by an AC wall socket as well. M2E Power has had discussions with cell phone manufacturers to build the generator directly into a phone.
"Handset manufacturers are under pressure to deal with electronic waste issues and show they are looking for more sustainable practices," Rowe said. "We've seen a lot of interest in this as the wave of the future."
But because those products take a few years to design and develop, it will likely take at least two years before a self-powered cell phone is commercially available, Rowe said.
The company is also testing how much charge it can draw from the vibration of vehicles, Rowe said. The amount of charge a generator can make varies a great deal with the amount of motion.
"Someone with an old pick-up truck with no shocks will have a glorious time with M2E technology, but someone with a Mercedes will have to spend more time" charging, she said.
Long term, the company is looking at placing self-charging devices in hybrid and electric cars.
Putting a self-charging device near windshield wipers or door locks could significantly cut down on a hybrid car's electrical load and extend its driving range, Rowe said.
The company also has military grants to explore the use of self-powering devices such as night goggles.
From: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10023421-54.html?tag=mncol;title
Posted by Salvagers Blogger @ 7:52 PM
Send us a comment!